Paper Mario: The Origami King is a delight. It is clear Intelligent System has put a lot of love and care into the game. While it is not the greatest Mario game of recent memory, it certainly stands on its own merit as a unique take on the Mario franchise. In a way, Paper Mario: The Origami King redefines this beloved spin-off series, and is an excellent addition to Mario's portfolio. It features unique folded paper characters with colourful and bold stages reflecting all walks of life. The new characters are memorable and cute, while all the favourites have returned to feature in some form or another. It is a definite must-have for fans, and will assuredly serve as a nice entry point for players looking for an entry point into the iconic plumbers lively escapades.
Repetition can be both a crux and a boon. If done right, video games — and practically any form of media — can feel unique in their execution, regardless of how much repetition is featured. WRC 9 ticks all the correct boxes and then some. While the game largely feels exactly like WRC 8, it is clear Kylotonn Racing’s tweaks and changes were precise and immaculate. The changes may have been small, but their impact is significant in the grand scheme. Furthermore, KT Racing’s valuable additions to multiplayer serve as adequate methods to improve upon previous misgivings - particularly that of WRC 8. It is not a perfect game in any stretch and falls just short of what Dirt Rally 2.0 manages to do right. Even so, it is a part of the upper echelon of simulators and stands above many others in the rally genre. At the end of the day, WRC 9 serves as an excellent addition to any rally fan’s video game library; thanks to its attention to detail, excellent sound production and incredible new physics.
Mafia Definitive Edition is an all-round great package. It looks and sounds phenomenal. From expert motion capture and stellar performances by all cast involved, down to outstanding writing, it has the makings of an A-class title. Gameplay may be a bit wonky, but there is so much else that brings the game up to the standards of the likes of Red Dead Redemption 2 and Grand Theft Auto V – but perhaps not as broad in scope. Hangar 13 have done a fantastic job and made Mafia Definitive Edition a must-have for any fan of the period, setting or mobster plot.
WWE 2K Battlegrounds is, ultimately, one of the worst games this side of the current console generation. While it has some cool-looking comic book cutscenes and a decent story, the campaign quickly devolves into a repetitive grind with no real end. The grind is so boring that players actively feel encouraged to spend real-world money just to get anywhere in the game. This is astonishing, to say the least, and extremely unacceptable. Multiplayer would make sense if played with friends, but after a little while, there is no feasible reason to continue playing. Wrestlers feel generic and unoriginal, except for the five overarching classes. Frankly, the game is not worth recommending, not even for the most hardcore of wrestling fans.
Beyond the horrible repetition and seemingly tacked-on multiplayer, Marvel’s Avengers genuinely features a golden single-player narrative. Kamala Khan is one of the best and most surprising additions to the game. Her highly relatable personality is exceptionally geeky, and pushes the campaign in wonderful, albeit cliched, directions. Character progression can be a bit tedious outside of single player, with a handful of missions, bosses, and enemies that tick the necessary boxes at first. Sadly, the very same aspects that work exceptionally well in single-player serve as nothing more than unnecessary effort and filler in multiplayer. At its core, Marvel’s Avengers has a serious identity crisis. It absolutely is worth picking up for any comic book fan to enjoy the super narrative, but ultimately has very little replay value for anyone who dislikes monotonous grinding.
Watch Dogs: Legion is proof of just how invested Ubisoft is in this incredibly interesting and evolving franchise. The title is ultimately incredibly unique and not overly complicated. It does not take itself too seriously, and allows for gamers to both enjoy and become engrossed in the world it builds. Although some weird issues do detract from the overall experience, such as the weird masks and unnecessary memes, these are all an integral part of the premise. So much so, that the game would feel empty and void without them and, weirdly, when thrown into the mix pot that is Watch Dogs: Legion, everything works together beautifully. Although the game may not be the sequel fans of Watch Dogs 2 have asked for, it certainly showcases what Ubisoft is capable of when allowed to have a bit of creative fun with an established franchise.
Dirt 5 is genuinely a pretty game. From its incredibly smooth framerates, through to its detailed and intense 4K visuals; complemented by bright beautiful colours and a simple approach to racing and vehicles; all makes Dirt 5 truly feels like a game coming to the latest and greatest hardware. The game looks way better in person than it does on YouTube too, and plays incredibly well. In time, the game can be upgraded with a whole bunch of new customisable options, and eventually, patched to enhance performance even more. It is honestly a great and fun game that encourages quick plug-and-play gaming more so than most single players titles, and is well worth it for any fan of arcade racing or the Dirt franchise.
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla takes inspiration from every single one of the franchise greats. From Assassin’s Creed II’s exceptional writing and Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag’s unlikely hero, Valhalla is both expertly written and has an unusual hero destined for greatness - one who has no real interest in the Hidden Ones, at least to start. From Assassin’s Creed Origins’ superb and intimate narrative and Assassin’s Creed Odyssey’s full-fledged role-playing game (RPG) mechanics, Valhalla doubles down on all facets to deliver one of the best gameplay experiences featured in any Assassin’s Creed title to date. Evior truly is a loveable protagonist that players fall in love with quickly. Their struggle is the player’s struggle, and that is the best compliment a game can ask for. However, there are so many additional aspects that make the game an even better experience: the exceptional soundtrack and sound design; World Events that do not repeat; settlement building, and so much more! Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is immensely fun and satisfying to play, and offers constant surprises that do not seem to stop or disappoint. It is, undoubtedly, the best Ubisoft has to offer at this stage in time, and will forever be regarded as one of the greats in the Assassin's Creed franchise.
While it feels less polished than the 2018 base game, Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales is still a must-play for any Spider-Man fan. It is also clear how the theme with Miles Morales is “short” or “quick”. There are motifs of shorter and more condensed experiences strewn throughout the entire game: from its skill trees, and Miles’ suits, gadgets, and modifications, through to the short but sweet six-hour campaign, and around four extra hours of side content and collectables. It does feel like Miles Morales was meant as a proper expansion to release alongside Marvel’s Spider-Man, but got cut halfway into development and was subsequently repurposed as a PlayStation 5 launch title instead. Nevertheless, the game offers a solid single-player experience and serves as a wonderful cutting of the ribbon for all future PlayStation 5 titles.
Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered is great, and wonderful on PlayStation 5. A must-have for any big fan, but otherwise not worth the cost of entry if you already own the game on PS4.
There is much to like and enjoy with Demon's Souls. As a remake, Bluepoint have brought a beloved classic to the future in a rather spectacular fashion. Despite a few technical niggles here and there, and disappointing integration with the DualSense controller, the game offers an otherwise exceptional experience. From the way levels must be tackled strategically, through to how gear must be chosen beforehand, knowing that everything has weight including curatives, is an added stress that players might not realise they wanted from their Soulslike games. Serving to make an already challenging experience even more rewarding, further inciting how this original title truly is the grandfather of all Soulslikes, and for good reason. The Demon's Souls remake is a masterful experience truly showcasing how its genre-bending tropes led to the creation of the Soulslike experience it is known as today.
From Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War’s extremely flashy, yet ultimately shallow, campaign; through to its back-to-basics multiplayer offerings and reimagined Zombie modes, the game is great. While multiplayer is very subjective it is easy to see Cold War’s multiplayer becoming the next benchmark for frantic battles and firefights among friends and online communities. The game also looks incredible and loads like a breeze. For the first time in a long time, there is a Call of Duty game worthy of the attention it has received in the weeks leading up to its release. It may not be a profound title challenging personal philosophies, but it is most definitely worth playing even if just for its single-player narrative.
Immortals Fenyx Rising is an incredible title. While the aesthetic might not be for everyone and its open-world nature will eventually become repetitive, the game is so chock-full of optional content and beautiful vistas that this eventuality will take a long time to reach. The story is wonderfully narrated and crafted to work incredibly well with the graphical design of the game too. Better still, the humorous approach to ancient Greek mythology alongside the bold and colourful aesthetic; all wonderfully complement each other in ways that only Legend of Zelda games have been capable of in the past. It is rare for any company, let alone Ubisoft, to bring out a brand-new Intellectual Property and for it to reign supreme right from the start. However, Immortal Fenyx Rising certainly manages this seemingly impossible feat with aplomb. Fenyx is a relatable character, and the incredible narration between Zeus and Prometheus are wonderfully nostalgic for any lover of Saturday Morning Cartoons. The gameplay constantly makes players want to come back for more, with countless secrets, puzzles and story elements to keep players engaged for hours and hours of enjoyment. Immortals Fenyx Rising is very near perfect, and ticks all the right boxes for a game that is gorgeous, enjoyable, addictive and highly entertaining.
Devil May Cry 5: Special Edition is not a true remaster, but it does add the graphical niceties associated with games that do get the updated treatment. In this sense, the graphics are enhanced enough to make it look and feel new, while the addition of a bunch of new features and game modes help increase replay-ability. Despite the subtle improvements, and considering how the game has not even been out for a full year, the asking price is a bit of a cheek. While it is 20 dollar’s less than the original $60 USD price tag, it still stings too much for anyone who may have bought the collector’s editions in 2019, thinking they would get free upgrades to the next-gen version (and rightfully so). Qualms about the price notwithstanding, the game is wonderfully executed in both design and narrative. It is a decent sequel to the events of Devil May Cry 4, and a great point of entry for any new fan. The Devil May Cry 5: Special Edition might be the best bang for buck entry as well, though no one will argue that the first three titles are still the strongest.
Verdict: Good Raji: An Ancient Epic proves it is worthy of its title. It is often easy to think of an indie title as good looking; or with masterful platforming segments in levels that make sense given the story. However, it is extremely rare for an indie title to have all those facets combined in a single package. At its core, gameplay may be uninteresting, but this entire facet allows for something way more important: world building. Raji also finds an incredible boon in its excellent voice over work and sound design, which is especially true for supporting characters like Durgu. Where Raji absolutely shines, however, is in its exceptional narrative. It combines level design and storytelling in beautiful ways that not only teaches, but also moves the plot forward. Raji: An Ancient Epic may not be a big triple-A hit, but it most certainly is a title that deserves to be experienced.
Cyberpunk 2077 is a truly massive game. While it is not as big in scale as The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, or as great in status as The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, it most certainly is one of the most ambitious titles of 2020 and now 2021. There are bugs and the game may not be as polished as many gamers have hoped, but it is nowhere near as scary or as bad as the bandwagon has made it out to be. In practice, the game serves as a fun romp in a dystopian world where cybernetic implants and prosthetics prevail. The player takes on the role of V, a merc who wants to make it big, in a living and breathing city with a life of its own. Supporting characters are by far the game’s strongest feature, with animations and voice overs that truly are next level. It may not be the masterpiece everyone expected, but it comes very close.
GOOD - Little Nightmares II is a delight to play, but its weak narrative and overarching goal dissuade from a wonderfully immersive world. Running away from big bad enemies and solving frantic puzzles in dark rooms are incredibly fun and surprisingly addictive. The game is fairly small with a very short campaign spread over three or four main locales (hopefully future DLC will alleviate this feeling). The game’s reliance on external sources for lore is also a bit disappointing. Fortunately, the minor caveats are forgotten courtesy of the wonderfully scary and well thought out world on offer. Little Nightmares II is a wonderfully scary delight, a great addition to the Little Nightmares Collection, and is a must play for anyone who enjoyed the first title.
While not entirely original, The Medium serves as a wonderful experience that marries the best of the classic fixed camera horror titles with brand-new gameplay mechanics and level design. The story is a little bit short and there are one too few explorable locales, but the experience itself remains fun. Bloober Team did a great job at creating yet another suspenseful video game. Everything, from the world [both of them] to the way the characters are designed to interact with it, and everything in between, show a lot of dedication. Voices may be a bit weak, and animation does leave a lot to be desired, but The Medium is a must-have for fans of the classic horror genre. It is a slow and methodical game with a decent pay off at the end. The Medium may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it most assuredly fills a niche no longer catered for by the likes of Capcom or Konami.
From an insane amount of replayability in missions, and maps that showcase how much IO Interactive has evolved; it is clear Hitman 3 ends off the trilogy with a bang. There are so many facets and features working expertly together to produce what could be called the ‘definitive Hitman experience’. The game serves around 10 hours of gameplay for a single pass and hundreds more for players who love going through and figuring out what other creative ways there are to get rid of 47’s marks. Thankfully, whether players go through it once or a hundred times, the vistas will never disappoint. Sound can sometimes get in the way of immersion, but thankfully the world itself is expertly crafted. The leap in the console generation serves the franchise well by giving the game the exact amount of horsepower it needs. The result is a great sendoff for the trilogy and an incredible starting point for any new players.
Truth be told, Werewolf: The Apocalypse – Earthblood has a lot of promise. From its narrative hook that sadly never catches on, through to its would-be addictive gameplay loop that never delivers, it is clear to see where things should have worked out well. Unfortunately, the emptiness felt from the repetitive levels and incredibly samey mission structures are too difficult to ignore. On a positive note, the dialogue system feels modern and less primitive than its overall design, and the RPG-lite system can be fleshed out in a possible expansion down the line. Sadly, these positives are not enough to sway away from the tepid gameplay, aged visuals and a total missed opportunity to further explore the copious amounts of lore and background from which the game is based! Until the developers pull some Hello Games antics and completely end up bringing more to the table than what this game offers, it simply cannot be said that Werewolf: The Apocalypse – Earthblood is any good.